"I think it was just time to do a reset": Coco Gauff shares reasons for parting with coach Brad Gilbert

America’s young tennis star Coco Gauff has revealed the reason she ended her association with coach Brad Gilbert. The 21-year-old is already regarded as one of the best players in women’s tennis in the singles category, along with Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka.

Swiatek is currently participating in the China Open, where she will play her first match on Friday against France’s Clara Burel. The 23-year-old defeated Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in the round of 128 of the competition with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. The world number four will be taking part in the competition with a new coaching staff after parting ways with her former coach, Gilbert.

Talking ahead of her tournament opener, Gauff revealed the reason behind changing her coach. The one-time Grand Slam winner was of the opinion that she was looking to ‘reset’ after spending ‘great’ time with her former coach Gilbert. "Working with Brad was really great and obviously we had a great partnership,” she said. “I think it was just time to do a reset, a refresh, and add some things in my game that I felt like I need to do to have a better season next year."

Gauff will be hoping she will be able to get her season back on track in Beijing, especially ahead of the WTA Finals, which will be organised in November, for the first time in Saudi Arabia’s city of Riyadh. The world number four has had a difficult period leading up to the China Open. The Atalanta-born star’s most recent appearance was at the US Open, where, while defending her title, she was knocked out after losing in the fourth round to fellow American Emma Navarro with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Before that, Gauff was knocked out of the Cincinnati Open after losing in the first round after losing to Yulia Putintseva with a score of 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.